French Rock Star Johnny Hallyday Dies At 74

Johnny Hallyday died at 74 on Wednesday, December 6, after a battle with cancer.

He was called the “French Elvis”; the singer helped popularise rock ‘n roll in his country.

Described by French President Emmanuel Macron as a vibrant icon, Hallyday’s career spanned more than half a century, selling more than 100 million records.

Continue playing

French rock star Johnny Hallyday dies at 74

You may also like

Watch again

French rock star Johnny Hallyday dies at 74

You may also like

His early music brought rock and roll to French shores and earned him an army of fans throughout the French-speaking world.

In later days, he was celebrity royalty, gracing the covers of magazines, and became known for his elaborate stage performances.

Johnny Hallyday

Hallyday said in a 2012 interview:

"I always try to do shows that are a little bit different compared to the ones that I did before. But yes, I do try and do things that are out of the ordinary with nice lights and special effects, screens, anything that can make people dream."

Hallyday had been preparing a new album and stage tour when news of treatment for respiratory problems in a Paris hospital was announced last month.